TGA0787 – First Documentation of a Weaponized UAV Armed with S-5 Rockets by Hezbollah

On May 16, 2024, Hezbollah carried out an attack against a military outpost in the Metula area, in northern Israel, using a weaponized UAV armed with S-5 air-to-surface rockets, which was ultimately also used as a loitering munition. Similar to other attacks by Hezbollah, the attack was documented by the organization, this time, also from a camera mounted on the UAV.
This attack combined a loitering munition and weaponized UAV, which is one of the most useful tools at Hezbollah’s disposal in the current war, alongside the use of air-to-ground rockets, constituting a force multiplier – successfully hitting two adjacent targets with one UAV. The attack is the first of its kind that has been executed and documented by Hezbollah since the latter joined the fight against Israel on October 8, 2023, and while not being a particularly advanced capability at this stage, it certainly represents a step up by Hezbollah. However, it is likely that UAVs capable of firing precision guided missiles, sourced from Iran, have been transferred to Hezbollah and will be used at a later stage, or in the scenario of an all-out war with Israel.